Deployment System for the RABSII Antenna
Design Analysis of a Deployment System for a 5-meter long Dipole Antenna onboard the Delfi-Twin
A. El Jouhri (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
Jurgen Vanhamel – Mentor (TU Delft - Space Systems Egineering)
Jasper Bouwmeester – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Space Systems Egineering)
Ines Uriol Balbin – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Group Uriol Balbin)
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Abstract
The Delfi-Twin satellite, a 3P PocketQube developed at TU Delft, carries the RABSII payload, which includes a 5-meter dipole antenna. This antenna requires a deployment angle between 90° and 130°, while meeting strict constraints on volume, mass, and power. The deployment system uses three self-actuating hinge mechanisms per antenna element. Each hinge mechanism uses a commercial torsion spring and consists of Al7075-T6 hinge leaves and a Ti6-Al4-V hinge rod. The design accounts for structural performance under worst-case quasi-static and thermal loads. According to ECSS motorization factors, the system achieves a deployment angle of 92.57°, under a resistive torque of 10.547 Nmm. Each antenna deployment system has a mass of 4.978 g and fits within a 4.75×5×2.8 cm³ volume, with localized panel milling enabling compliance. Recommended next steps include improving the resistive torque estimation, refining structural analysis, and developing a proto-flight model with a comprehensive test campaign under mission-like conditions.